I've been looking through her book for a few days now and feel like she is talking to me, specifically, and teaching me how to look at my garden differently.

Now, to be honest, I started to look at my garden differently a few years ago when I felt like every plant I bought just seemed to disappear into my garden, which lacked a cohesive design.

I hired a garden designer back then to help me with an overall design and my garden is much improved. Now that I have the beds and borders all laid out, I think this is the perfect book for me to learn how to tweak each of the areas, fill in some gaps, and make a few other adjustments. Not to mention, I can use the design tips in this book to figure out what to do with some areas that are sadly not yet planted.

I've already recommended this book to a co-worker and loaned her an extra copy that I ordered for myself. This co-worker mentioned she was going to work on her garden design this winter and had purchased a book to help her. When she told me what book she bought I told her, "No, no, no, no, no. Send that book back and I'll loan you one that will be a lot better."

In the meantime, let's mingle at this party and talk about the giveaways.

I've got two garden tools to give away, including a Fiskars Telescoping Power-Lever® Bypass Lopper that could be used by any gardener to prune back that shrub or small tree that has grown all out whack and is making your garden feel unbalanced at the moment.

The other garden tool in this giveaway is a Fiskars Long-Handled Aluminum Hoe.
I'm a little envious that someone is going to win this hoe, other than me, because this is one hoe I don't own but would like to own. It looks like the perfect hoe for smoothing out that new bed or border that you are putting in because you just read Refresh Your Garden Design with Color, Form & Texture and realize that is exactly what your garden needs.

To win these prizes, just leave a comment by 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, November 10, 2013. Be sure your comment leads me to a website or blog with your email address or put your email address in your comment disguised by typing it something like myemail AT gmail DOT com. I'll pick a winner by random number and announce the winner on Monday, November 11. One winner will win both prizes.

This contest is open to residents of the continental United States, age 18 or over. If you want to enter more than once, post a link to this blog post on Twitter or your Facebook page and you can enter again with another comment.

And now, enough about me and you and winning these prizes. Let's go mingle with the other party guests because they also have great prizes to give away.

And now it's time for me to again thank the hostess of this party, Rebecca Sweet, for this fun virtual event and for introducing me to her new book, Refresh Your Garden Design with Color, Form, & Texture. It is going to help me see my garden in new ways.

(Yes, Rebecca sent me a copy of her book, but I also bought a copy of her book because it's good to support garden writers!)

Update 11/11/2013 - This contest is over. For a chance to win the book, please visit this blog post by 11:13 pm EST on 11/13/20131

Comments

Oh that sounds like a great book, but I cant enter since I live in Australia. After visiting a feiend over the weekend I had garden envy and came back with all sorts of ideas on how to improve my garden. gardeneners are a lot that are always looking for new ideas.

I think you were pretty smart to get some help with design. I need to do that. But in the meantime maybe the book will help and those pruners will help me get rid of some unwanted garden plants-like lantana! Thanks for letting me stop by at the party.

I would love a new pair of loppers (mine are quite rusty) and a book on garden desigh. I tend to buy plants I love and then worry about where they go later. Sound familiar Carol? You can reach me at kristi dot twichell at gmail dot com.

I could always use a new hoe and some long-handled loppers, and both of these look like great products. But what I really need help with is some design advice. This book looks great, especially with such superb recommendations from all these respected gardeners. I don't usually win these prizes, so I'm going to be sure to put this on my wish list just to be safe!

Hmmm this looks like something to read as I reinvent the back yard bed. And that hoe is just like one I had and broke from over use, I just loved it. Thanks for offering it up, I know how hard it is for you to part with one :)

I need to get that book! I have a new project to develop beds all around a house that has sun, where I'm used to mostly shade. And lots of the work requires different tools, so that would help as well. cindischeib at gmail dot com.

Carol what a great way to honor a friend like Rebecca. I look forward to reading her book. And I was chuckling to myself when I saw one of the tools you were giving away was a hoe. I bet you would love that hoe. Thanks for being part of this giveaway and whoever gets those tools will be lucky! Hope it's me :)

My goal for 2014 is to redo my garden, deleting what needs to go and reorganizing what is staying. When I heard about Rebecca's book I immediately preordered it...I've only had it a few days but it is just what I needed to help me figure out how to accomplish my goal. Those tools wold help as well!

Loppers! How fabulous. They work so well in those difficult spots and sometimes save our backs from having to drag out a ladder. A fantastic giveaway. Rebecca has been helping me refresh my garden and the results are miraculous. This is a good book.

I only have one Fisker tool (the small multi-use snippers) but keep it with me at all times!! Being my first year at attempting ANY type of gardening, I can use all the help and ideas I can get. This has been SO theraputic for me and am looking forward to what possibilities might be in store for me. csaulter70 AT gmail DOT com

What a great giveaway- I love Fiskars products and always want new ones! Rebecca Sweet's book is on my Christmas wish list, so I can get some design ideas before the spring. My email - annlees AT gmail DOT com

My garden tools, for the most part, were discards of my dads from years ago. They are sentimental favorites but not the most efficient - and certainly not "Splinter-free"! New tools would be a definite gift!

teehee, garden fairies - now that's a cute pre-comment warning ;) As for the book and it's party, what a wonderful way to advertise it, and I like getting the different personal reviews and take-aways from it. Definitely one that will need to make it onto my already crowded bookshelves! (catsmack80 AT gmail DOT com)

Could really use a new lopper since my old one ends up squashing my thumbs if I'm not careful. And that hoe looks mighty handy, too. Fiskars makes good quality tools. Thanks for sponsoring this useful gardening give-away!